Uhh…is there Meat in my French Fries?

MrsMarv on Flickr here

If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, how confident are you about finding food choices that suit your needs wherever you go?  If you were to order a veggie burger, would you be okay with it being cooked on the same grill as the meat? Are you confident that the sauce on your sandwich is free of meat products? Your french fries?

This is a relatively new issue to me.  After ordering a veggie burger at a restaurant and seeing it cooked on the same grill as the meat, I was rather disturbed at how non-vegetarian my meal became in the split second it touched the grill. 

After doing some Googling, I’ve found that eating vegetarian and vegan is actually quite a feat, especially in the fast food world as things like “natural beef extract” find their way into McDonald’s French fries, anchovies into dressings at Jack in the Box, and  milk (and wheat, for all you gluten-free babes) finds its way into practically everything.  Are specialty restaurants the only “safe” places for people with dietary restrictions/specific food lifestyles to eat? I’d say yes and no.  Yes, if you really don’t want to head back to the kitchen to watch your food being made or to read the labels on every drop of sauce or dressing added to your bread.  No, if you do your research beforehand and stick to really simple, fool-proof items like salads with the dressing on the side (preferably with packaged dressing so that you may examine the labels, or ask for a simple vinegar & oil blend).

Check out this site to find out if your favorite fast food restaurants have any legit vegetarian and vegan options.  If you avoid fast food like I would a bikini, then you might feel more secure in the food choices you make.  But restaurants, especially non-chain restaurants, are less inclined to post the nutritional information for their menu.  While laws in NY, CA and elsewhere are forcing chains to post calorie information, finding the exact ingredients in your foods can be daunting, especially if it’s not a chain.  My one piece of advice?  Never hesitate to ask your waiter or even the chef how something is prepared or what is in the dish you’re eying and don’t be afraid to personalize an item or go off the menu completely.  Any tips to add?

In the News

• Science Daily‘s, “Regular Yoga Practice is Associated with Mindful Eating” (8/16/09) here — Wow, very interesting!
• New Scientist‘s, “It’s True: All the Taken Men Are Best” (8/17/09) here — This isn’t necessarily health-related, but it’s very interesting that this study showed single women to be more attracted to men depicted as being in relationships than their counterparts who were depicted as single.
• New Scientist‘s, “Photos of Cake Can Keep You Slim, Say Psychologists” (8/17/09) here — The parameters of the study seem sketchy — if you show me a piece of cake and then ask me if I have plans to eat better, I’m sure I’d say “yes” and assume you thought I needed to lose weight.  Either way, interesting.  And if true, then we should all prescribe Thisiswhyyourefat as part of a healthy lifestyle makeover plan.

Give-Away?

If you’re suffering from a case of “the Mondays,” I’m offering a give-away to soothe your spirit!  In the mix:

• One bag of Feed Granola in Raisin Nut
• One Honey Stinger 120-Calorie Honey Packet in Ginger
• One Neiman’s Own Organics Super Dark Chocolate Bar
• One Neiman’s Own Organics Ginger Mints Tin
• One Honey Stinger 20g Protein Bar in Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond Pro
• Five (5) Stonyfield Farm Product Coupons
• A mixed c.d. of my favorite work-out songs (which may or may not include a shameless sample or two of my band’s songs)

To enter (please submit a separate comment indicating each entry):

• Follow me on Twitter
• Link to this post on your blog
• Add me to your blog roll
• Add a comment listing your favorite place to eat or a tip on how to eat vegetarian or vegan everywhere

Give-away open to U.S. residents only and ends Thursday, August 20th, 11:59 p.m. PST. Winner announced on Friday, August 21st.

<3, The Cranky One

Mornin’ guys!

ENTER OUR COMPETITORS

Trader Joe’s Organic Vegetarian Chili

• 1 cup — 190 calories, 6 g fat, 7 g fiber, 8 g protein, sodium 590 mg; iron 20%
• Ingredients — organic red beans, filtered water, organic onions, organic tofu (water, organic soybeans, nigari), organic bell peppers, organic sweet rice flour, organic jalapeno peppers, panic high oleic safflower and/or sunflower oil, spices, organic garlic, sea salt.

vs.

Whole Foods 365 Brand Organic Vegetarian Chili Mild

• 1 cup — 240 calories, 5 g fat, 10 g fiber, 13 g protein, sodium 530 mg; iron 15%
• Water, prepared organic pinto beans, organic textured soy protein, organic chili pepper, organic corn starch, organic tomato paste, organic canola oil, contains less than 1% of each of the following: organic onion powder, organic corn flour, organic onions, organic red bell peppers, organic jalapenos, sea salt, organic evaporated can juice, organic spice, organic garlic powder

Which one is better?

• If you prefer a smoky, spicy, and more bland chili, then Whole Foods’ brand vegetarian chili is for you.
• If you prefer a more sweet chili, then the Trader Joe’s brand is for you.
• If calories is ALL you care about, TJ’s has 50 calories less per cup (as both are relatively close in fat grams)
• If sodium is ALL you care about, WF has 60 mg less per cup
• I prefer the Trader Joe’s brand by far.  It is the most delicious chili I have ever had (even if I were including the meat versions I have had prior to being a vegetarian.)
• The only problem with the both of them?  Way too much sodium!

Think Outside the Bowl

• You can eat chili in a tortilla like a burrito!  See my post here.
• Use it as “dressing” over a salad or mixed vegetables.
• Use it as enchilada or lasagna filling.
• Use it as spaghetti sauce over whole-wheat pasta.
• Any other ideas?

Compare To

• Red Robins — One cup chili has 302 calories, 19 g of fat — Yikes on the fat
• Au Bon Pain — One cup vegetarian chili has 225 calories, 2.2 g fat (cool!), but 990 mg sodium (worse than both the TJ and WF brands)
• Average cup of chili, says Calorie King here — One cup = 360 calories, 24 g fat

In The News

• “The Food Truck Stops Here,” LA Daily News, 7/29/09, here — To all my L.A. peeps out there — have you guys tried any of the food off roach coaches these trucks?  What do you guys think about mobile cuisine?
• “Venezuela Bans Coke Zero,” Fit Day, here, 7/29/09
• “Organic Food Has No Health Benefits, Study Finds,” Times Online, here, 7/29/09 – Muy interesante (though not shocking since my friend Marlan rants talks about this all the time)!
• Did any of you catch More to Love last night?  I happened to be on the phone with two of my girlfriends when my twin burst into my room, “Annabel — your show More to Love is on!”  (My show?  I had only heard of the show and never talked about it, but whatev, twin!   My gfs and I then got into an interesting discussion about the show in a theoretical sense, but instead of sharing our opinions and questions on the show with you, I want to know what you guys think about it! See article in EW.com here, primarily the comments section, for some interesting insight.
• “Obesity Politics and the Weight of the Nation,” The Atlantic, 7/27/09, here — I highly recommend reading this article and reading the comments.  Especially in light of Food Inc., it poses some very relevant questions about the food industry, our eating habits, etc.
• “MSG and the Fattening of a Nation,” Fit Day, here, 7/27/09

What are you guys watching this summer?  Any shows you refuse to miss?  Have you guys tried any good vegetarian chilies?

Happy Wednesday!

<3,

The Cranky One